droopy boot

Body parts, seats, dash, headlining, windows and stuff!

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ylee coyote
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droopy boot

Post by ylee coyote »

the springy thing is not keeping the boot lid open any more

has anyone done a spring /hydraulic damper conversion on it ?
It looks really mikey mouse
you would not need a very strong one or one that has much travel....
skating away on the thin ice of a new day

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chrisw2811
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Post by chrisw2811 »

There are some rubber rings on mine that go behind the springs to give them a bit of tension. If they move out of position, the boot lid won't stay up. You could try re-positioning these rings if you have them, or finding some way of packing the spring out a bit.....
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Post by tonypoll »

Could you give some details of these 'rubber things'? My boot always wacks me on the head so I'd like to know how to fix it. Thanks.

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chrisw2811
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Post by chrisw2811 »

Hi Tony. The wife and kids are away at the moment and have taken the digital camera, otherwise I would post a photo. The rings are a bit like black rubber doughnuts, around 2 inch outer diameter and about one and a half inch inner diameter. The springs that support the boot lid are torsion bars in a long U shape. They have a tag on the far end that stops them twisting further round, so when the boot lid is closed the bar is twisted. When the catch is released, the bar untwists and raises the boot lid. The rubber rings are inserted between the torsion bar and the body. They seem to lever the torsion bars away from the body and add a bit of tension. I took them out (idle curiosity) and found that the boot lid would not raise properly. The torsion bars are handed, but they look as though you could reverse them so they twist the other way, which might give added 'spring'.
1986 Excel SE, 1985 FJ1100, 2012 Passat TDI Estate, 2012 Golf TSi, 2010 Mini R56, 1985 Yamaha Salient 1964 Raleigh Runabout 1960 Motobecane 1979 Honda NC50 , '02 Montesa 315R

Well, if I was right all the time I'd get to be predictable!

terry
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Post by terry »

From your description, it sounds like someone has had the idea to use some rubber exhaust doughnuts to beef up sagging u-springs.

If it works fine, standard setup only has the metal bits, but from memory, I think they are no longer available.

A photo might be good, when you can, 'cos if it works, who cares.

BTW, somewhere there is a thread from me with a unipart number for these, from UP they only about 40p each.



Terry

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Post by alanmoss »

Just checked mine - only metal bits as Terry suspected.
Alan
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ylee coyote
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Post by ylee coyote »

mine are metal only

I should try the exhaust donuts trick....
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jimmybondi
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Post by jimmybondi »

I guess the mechanism was designed and tested on the lid w/o rear spoiler.
:?
Springs are fine - just weight of the spoiler is too much...
:cry:
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16VJay
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Boot Lid Springs

Post by 16VJay »

I had this problem and found that buy using a round file and deepening the notches in the boot lid hinges that the spring locates in to hold the lid open, I solved the problem.

Don't go mad though, the notches only need a tiny amount removed, you're only compensating for wear on the hinge arms.

Jeremy.

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RobB
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Post by RobB »

Hope this helps (as fitted to a 1985 non-SE):

Image

Image

Image

Er... the rubber rings did start life 'circular', honest! :roll:
Their positon along the 'U' spring controls ( to some degree) the level of tension in the spring.
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Ozzy_UK
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Post by Ozzy_UK »

that might explain my droopy boot...

didnt know there should be rings on there! :)
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83Excel
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Post by 83Excel »

I've only got one of the "springs". Prossibly because my car had no spoiler to start with. Will have to get another one at some stage.

At present the problem is resolved by the use of a 2 1/2 foot long piece of wood! :roll:
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amarshall
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Post by amarshall »

The rubber rings are not original.

The parts manual only shows the torsion springs.

However, adding the doughnuts might well give a quick fix by altering the spring characteristics sufficiently.
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Tanz
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Post by Tanz »

Are those the same rubber rings that support the rear exhaust :?:

I just purchased two (for the exhaust) as mine were full of deep cracks and looked as if they were about to break

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Phil
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RobB
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Post by RobB »

The ones fitted on mine are smaller than the exhaust rings; the one on the left is the exhaust support ring, the one on the right is from the boot spring:

Image

Judging by the cracks in them all I need to sort out replacements soon... :roll:
1985 Excel, Dark Metallic Green.
I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it left...

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